System and method for card game betting based on burn cards

ABSTRACT

A system and method of side betting based on burn cards is provided. The method enhances enjoyment of a card game and increases house revenue, without slowing or detracting from the game itself. Before a card gamer round is dealt, players make bets predicting the identity of a burn card hand that will be produced by combining the burn cards of the round. After the round is played, the burn cards are revealed. Winnings are distributed for all bets that meet specified winning requirements. Bets can be placed into a virtual or real side pot to be distributed among winners, or placed directly against the house according to house-established odds.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

The instant application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/372,459, filed Feb. 17, 2009, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention generally relates to card games, and more specifically to a system and method for placing and facilitating bets in card games such as poker.

BACKGROUND

The following description is provided simply as an aid in understanding the disclosure and is not admitted to describe or constitute prior art.

Poker is a well known card-based betting game. Traditionally, card games such as poker are played in-person by participants at casinos, gambling houses, etc. However, in the last decade, technology has allowed card games to be played in numerous ways. For example, many computers and handheld devices are configured to run card game software that allow a user to play a card game on that device. In addition, gaming websites can host card games such as poker. Using the Internet, participants from across the globe can play against a computer and/or each other.

In addition to normal betting, card games may include side bet options (also referred to as proposition bets), wherein the players can bet on the likelihood of certain occurrences happening during the course of normal play. These side bets are independent of the main betting, but are often related to the cards that are played. Side bets are popular because of the profit they can generate for a casino, gaming website or gaming/gambling house (hereinafter generally referred to as “the house”). In addition, side bets increase the entertainment value provided for players.

There are various methods for making poker side bets known in the prior art. Side bets that are related to the cards also used for the main betting are popular. However, they are somewhat limited in the added interest and entertainment they can generate, because they depend on the cards in play, which are already under scrutiny. Other methods for side betting require dealing of additional cards, which can slow down and distract from the main hand at play. Still other types of side bets are unrelated to hands, or to playing cards in general. For example, in some prior art methods a side bet can be placed for predicting which player will win a round of poker. There are two main problems with the afore-mentioned side bets. First, either these side bets lack sophistication and variety, and therefore provide only limited interest; or second, these side bets require a player to learn sophisticated rules unrelated to the main card game being played, and therefore require an unrealistic investment of time and effort on the part of the player.

SUMMARY

According to one embodiment, a method of betting in a card game, the card game including generation of burn cards, comprises accepting, by one or more computers, a bet from a player, wherein the bet is based on a prediction of a burn card hand; during a round of the card game, dealing, by one or more computers, a plurality of burn cards so as to produce the burn card hand; and awarding, by one or more computers, winnings to the player if the prediction of the burn card hand meets a specified winning requirement.

According to another embodiment, a system for betting in a card game, the card game including generation of burn cards, comprises one or more computers, configured with the following components: a component for accepting a bet from a player, wherein the bet is based on a prediction of a burn card hand; a component for during a round of the card game, dealing a plurality of burn cards so as to produce the burn card hand; and a component for awarding winnings to the player if the prediction of the burn card hand meets a specified winning requirement.

According to yet another embodiment, a computer-readable medium has computer-executable instructions embodied therein, to be executed by a computer, for performing a method comprising accepting, by one or more computers, a bet from a player, wherein the bet is based on a prediction of a burn card hand; during a round of the card game, dealing, by one or more computers, a plurality of burn cards so as to produce the burn card hand; and awarding, by one or more computers, winnings to the player if the prediction of the burn card hand meets a specified winning requirement.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only, and are not restrictive of the claimed subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will be more fully understood by reference to the detailed description, in conjunction with the following figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top view of a card game table in a preferred embodiment that includes manual betting and result processing;

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of a card game table in a preferred embodiment that uses electronic touch screens and card scanning;

FIG. 4A illustrates an input screen showing bet options, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of FIG. 3;

FIG. 4B illustrates an input screen showing a locked bet, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5A illustrates an input screen showing a burn card hand, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5B illustrates an input screen showing a side bet outcome, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of FIG. 5A;

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating the preferred embodiment of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a game betting system according to one embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram for an electronic system for implementing one or more embodiments of a game betting system;

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram illustrating an operation of the game betting system shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the disclosure will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the following description is intended to describe exemplary embodiments, and not to limit the claimed subject matter.

The disclosed system and method is a way of enhancing the play of card games (e.g., poker) by the awarding of burn bonus winnings according to burn card criteria that depend on a burn card hand formed by combining burn cards dealt during the play of a main hand. In various embodiments, the burn card criteria require that the burn card hand be a specific hand (such as a royal flush in poker). For example, a fixed amount of winnings can be set aside in a jackpot, for example by a house that is hosting the card game, and distributed among all players participating in the card game if a royal flush burn card hand is dealt.

In many embodiments, the burn card criteria depend on players placing side bets based on predictions of specific burn card hands. FIG. 1 is a top view of a poker table 100 used in one embodiment. The table 100 may be set for one or more players (a ten player setup is shown in FIG. 1). In this figure, each player's station 102 is shown with cards of a main hand 104, a main bet area 106 that is related to the main hand, and a burn bet area 108 that is related to a burn hand that is produced by combining the burn cards that are dealt during the main hand. In the middle of the table 100 is a main hand card area 110, where cards used for the main hand are placed (such as the flop, the turn, and the river in variants of hold'em poker). Closer to the dealer is a burn card area 111, where all of the burn cards from the main hand are placed face down until the main hand is completed and the burn cards are revealed. A main pot area may be located to the immediate left of the burn card area 111.

At the bottom of the table is a poker chips area 112. In between the main card area 110 and the poker chips area 112 is a dealer's burn bet monitoring area 114. The dealer can place player tokens 118 in appropriate burn hand areas 120 of the burn bet monitoring area 114, according to the kind of hand that each player has bet upon. As shown in the figure, players 1, 5 and 7 have bet upon a one pair burn hand, players 2 and 10 have bet upon a two pair burn hand, player 3 has bet upon a flush burn hand, player 4 has bet upon a high card burn hand, players 6 and 8 have bet upon a three of a kind burn hand, and 9 has bet upon a four of a kind burn hand. Certain hand options are omitted if they cannot be created by the number of burn cards generated in the variety of the card game being played. Furthermore, the house can restrict the hand options according to its preferences. For example, the house can decide that a side pot is put towards a jackpot which is only paid if a certain burn hand is produced, such as a royal flush.

The type of card game being played can determine how many burn cards will make up the burn hand, and therefore the different kinds of burn hands that are possible. For example, in seven card stud, the burn hand can include four burn cards, while some other varieties of poker card games produce burn hands with five burn cards. Depending upon the number of burn cards, the burn hand may or may not be able to produce certain traditional kinds of hands for the particular game.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram according to on embodiment based on FIG. L First, in step 200, all participating players in the main game and wishing to make a side bet place their bets into a burn bet side pot. In alternative embodiments, the players can place their bets individually against the house. Next, in step 202, the main round is dealt, and the burn cards are dealt out during the dealing of the main round. In step 204, it is deteremined if the main hand produced a burn hand. If the main round is not completed, and therefore does not produce a complete burn hand, in step 206, additional cards are dealt as if the main round were completed, so as to produce a complete burn hand. After all of the burn cards have been dealt, the burn cards are revealed to the players (e.g., displayed, turned over) to reveal the burn hand in step 208. In step 210, it is determined if any players correctly predicted the burn hand. If any players correctly predicted the burn hand, those players share equally in the side pot in step 212. In alternative embodiments where players place individual bets against the house, winning players are paid according to predetermined house odds. If no players correctly predicted the burn hand, the side pot is awarded to the house in step 214. In embodiments where players place individual bets against the house, unsuccessful bets are awarded to the house and winning bets are rewarded according to odds determined by the house.

FIG. 3 is a top view of a card game table 300 in another preferred embodiment of the present invention. According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the table is set for ten players. In the figure, each player's station 302 is shown with cards 304 of a main hand, a main bet area 306 is shown which relates to the main hand, and an input/output unit 308 (e.g., keypad, touch screen, etc.) is provided at each player station that enables the player to make a burn bet based upon a prediction of a burn hand. As in FIG. 1, the burn hand is the hand produced by combining the burn cards that are dealt during the main round.

Once entered via the input/output units 308, the burn hand bets are stored and processed by a computer (e.g., the game betting system 700 described below). In the middle of the table 300 is a main hand card area 310, where cards used for the main round are placed, such as, in poker, the flop, the turn, and the river. Adjacent to the main hand card area 310 is a burn card scanner window 311, where all of the burn cards from the main round are placed face down until the main round is completed, at which time the burn cards are scanned and revealed. A main pot area is adjacent to (e.g., to the immediate left of) the burn card scanner window 311.

According to one embodiment, the table 300 includes a poker chips area 312. Next to the poker chips area 312 is a dealer's burn betting input/output unit (e.g., touch screen) 314. Using the input/output unit 314, the dealer can lock in all of the players' burn bets before dealing out the cards for the main round.

The type of the card game being played (e.g., poker) determines how many burn cards will be included in the burn hand, and therefore the different kinds of burn hands that are possible. For example, in seven card stud, the burn hand will include four burn cards. Some other varieties of poker will produce a burn hand that includes five burn cards. Depending upon the number of burn cards, the burn hand may not be able to produce certain traditional kinds of card game hands.

FIG. 4A illustrates an input/output unit 308 implemented with a touch screen 400 showing bet options in accordance with the preferred embodiment of FIG. 3. In this figure, a player is presented with the various types of possible hands 402 that could be created by the burn cards. Certain hand options 402 are omitted if they cannot be created by the number of burn cards generated in the variety of card game being played. Furthermore, the house can restrict the hand options according to its preferences. For example, the house can decide to set up a tournament whereby winnings are only paid if a certain burn hand is produced, such as a royal flush. In FIG. 4A, the options shown are high card, one pair, two pair, three of a kind, straight, flush, full house, straight flush, and royal flush.

In the embodiment of FIG. 4A, there are also card numerical value bet options 404 and card suit bet options 406. In some embodiments of the invention, it is required that a player choose at least one numerical value option 404 related to the burn hand, and/or at least one suit option 406 related to the burn hand. For example, a casino house may require a player to choose the numerical value 404 and/or the suit 406 of a high card in a high card hand. In other embodiments a player is required to choose the numerical value 404 of the cards in a pair, the numerical value 404 of the high card in a straight, or the suit 406 of the cards in a flush hand. Other stipulations can be placed upon the burn bet as requirements, according to house preferences, or as options, so as to allow higher odds and therefore higher winning returns.

FIG. 4B illustrates a touch screen 400 showing a locked bet 408, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of FIG. 3. In this embodiment, the house dealer locks all players' bets before dealing the main round. The player using the screen shown in this FIG. 400 has placed a side bet 408 predicting a burn hand of a pair of sevens. In this example, the bet is included in a side pot that is worth ten dollars 410.

FIG. 5A illustrates a touch screen 400 showing a burn hand 500 in accordance with the preferred embodiment of FIG. 3. After the main round is completed, the house dealer scans the burn cards, which are then displayed on all players' touch screens 500. In this example, the burn hand matches the hand predicted by the player.

FIG. 5B illustrates a touch screen 400 showing a side bet outcome 502, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of FIG. 5A. In this example, the side pot of ten dollars 504 is awarded to the player who correctly bet on the burn hand 500 being a pair of sevens. If more than one person correctly bet on the burn hand 500 being a pair of sevens, then the pot is evenly divided amongst the winners.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating the preferred embodiment of FIG. 3. First, in step 600, all participating players place their bets via input/output devices such as personal touch screens. Then all players' burn hand bets are locked in step 602, after which the main round is dealt and the burn cards are dealt during the dealing of the main round in step 604. In step 606, a determination is made as to whether the main hand produced a burn hand. If the main round is not completed, and therefore does not produce a complete burn hand, in step 608, additional cards are dealt in the same order as if the round had been completed, so as to generate a complete set of burn cards. After all of the burn cards have been dealt, the dealer scans the burn cards in step 610 to reveal the burn hand on each player's touch screen. If any players correctly predicted the burn hand in step 612, their individual winnings are paid according to predetermined house odds in step 614, or in alternative embodiments using a side pot, each winning player will share equally in the side pot. For all players who incorrectly predicted the burn hand in step 615, their bet is awarded to the house in step 616. If the bets were pooled into a side pot, the side pot can be electronically rewarded and split as necessary, or the house can put the side pot into a jackpot, a tournament play, or the like.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a game betting system (GBS) 700 according to one embodiment. The GBS 700 may be operably connected to a database 710. The database 710 is configured to store information. The stored information can be retrieved by the GBS 700. In addition, the GBS 700 may store data in the database 710. According to one embodiment, the GBS 700 may also be connected to a client 720. The client 720 is configured to send and receive signals (e.g., information, data, etc.) to and from the GBS 700 and provide information to a user/player in a perceptible format (e.g., via a display screen, audibly, in print, etc.).

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a game betting system (GBS) 700, generally designated by reference number 700, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In one embodiment, the GBS 700 according to the present invention may be communicatively coupled to one or more networks 805, such as the Internet, to therethrough communicate with interested or authorized parties (e.g., players). The GBS 700 may also or alternatively be communicatively coupled to a network 805 comprising a closed network (e.g., an intranet), and thereby communicate information to a limited amount of receivers, potentially with an enhanced level of security. The GBS 700 may be configured to communicate, via the one or more networks 805, with the respective computer systems (e.g., database 710, one or more databases 860 or client 720).

The communication interface 895 may provide data communication through one or more networks 805 to other data devices. The network 805 may represent a generic network, which may correspond to a local area network (LAN), a wireless LAN, an Ethernet LAN, a token ring LAN, a wide area network (WAN), the Internet, a proprietary network, an intranet, a telephone network, a wireless network, to name a few and any combination thereof. Depending on the nature of the network employed for a particular application, the network 805 may be implemented accordingly. The network 805 serves the purpose of delivering information between connected parties.

The GBS 700 may be used in some embodiments to implement a computing platform for providing computer-implemented operations, for example, via a server and the one or more networks 805. An exemplary GBS 700 may operate under the control of computer—executable instructions (computer software) to carry out the process steps described herein (e.g., a computerized implementation of a card game). Computer-executable instructions comprise, for example, instructions and data which cause a general or special purpose computer system or processing device to perform a certain function or group of functions. Computer software for the GBS 700 may comprise, in an embodiment, a set of software objects and/or program elements including computer-executable instructions collectively having the ability to execute in a single processor, or independently in a plurality of processors to comprise a thread or logical chain of process evaluation, and permitting the flow of data inputs/outputs therebetween.

The GBS 700 may be implemented as, or include, one or more personal computers, workstations, notebook computers, servers, mobile computing devices, handheld devices, multi-processor systems, networked personal computers, minicomputers, mainframe computers, personal data assistants, Internet appliances (e.g., a computer with minimal memory, disk storage and processing power designed to connect to a network, especially the Internet, etc.), or controllers.

The GBS 700 may comprise, in one embodiment, a bus 810 or other communication component that couples the various system elements 820-895, and may be configured to communicate information between the various system elements 820-895.

As shown in FIG. 8, one or more computer processors 820 may be configured to process and handle information and execute instructions, and may be coupled with the bus 810. The GBS 700 also may include a main memory 850, such as a Random Access Memory (RAM) or other dynamic storage device, coupled to the bus 810 for storing information and instructions to be executed by the one or more processors 820. The main memory 850 also may be used for storing temporary variables or other intermediate information during execution of instructions by the one or more processors 820.

The GBS 700 further may include a Read-Only Memory (ROM) 830 or other static storage device (e.g., EPROM, EAROM, EEPROM, PROM, flash, and the like) coupled to the bus 810 for storing static information and instructions for the one or more processors 820. Furthermore, a storage device 840, such as a magnetic disk or optical disk, such as a CD-ROM or other optical media may be provided and coupled to the bus 810 for storing information and instructions.

In addition to the ROM 830, one or more databases 860 (represented in FIG. 7 as database 710) may be coupled to the bus 810 for storing static information and software instructions. Information stored in or maintained using the database 860 may be provided in conformance with a database management system format such as, but not limited to, the Structured Query Language (SQL) format. Database query and access instructions, for example, in the form of one or more scripts, may be used which, when executed by a processor such as the processor 820, serve to store and retrieve data maintained in the database 860 according to the instructions contained in the script, and the data fields to be accessed, as well as their arrangement.

Furthermore, the GBS 700 may comprise application software instructions which may comprise a user interface portion for generating interactive pages or display screens by which a user may provide data to and receive information from the GBS 700 and the database 860 using a human-machine interface such as a graphical user interface (GUI). Interactive pages may include user dialog boxes for accepting user entered information. In particular, the (GUI) portion may prompt the user to enter data by providing an interactive dialog box or message box instructing the user to enter particular data, or to select from among a multitude of options provided using a pull-down menu. A user may interact with the GBS 700 via the graphical user interface provided by the GUI portion by using a pointing device and/or other data entry device. The GUI portion may place the output of the GBS 700 in a format for presentation to a user via a display 890, discussed below. In at least one embodiment, the GUI may be implemented as a sequence of programming language instructions.

A data entry device 870, including alphanumeric and other keys, or a pointing device such as a mouse or trackball, or a scanner, etc., may be coupled to the bus 810 for communicating information and command selections to the processor 820. The data entry device 870 may be coupled to the bus 810 via an interface (not shown), wherein the interface may be, for example, a serial port, a RS-232 port, or the like. In addition, the interface may be a wireless interface and provide connection-less communication via, for example, Bluetooth communication. According to another embodiment the data entry device 870 may be an integral component of the GBS 700 such as a physical or touch screen keyboard.

The GBS 700 may be coupled via the bus 810 to a display 890 for outputting information to a computer user. In addition, a user may use the display (e.g., touch screen) to provide information to the GBS 700. In one embodiment, the display 890 may be a Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) display, a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), a plasma display, a LED display, a projector, a touch screen, or other suitable display, capable of displaying information.

According to at least one embodiment of the present invention, the various program operations as described herein may be provided by the GBS 700 in response to the one or more processors 820 executing one or more sequences of computer-readable instructions contained in the main memory 850 (e.g., card game software). Such instructions may be read into the main memory 850 from another computer-readable medium, such as the ROM 830, the storage device 840, or the database 860. Execution of the sequences of instructions contained in the main memory 850 may cause the one or more processors 820 to perform the process steps described herein. It should be appreciated that an embodiment of the GBS 700 may perform fewer or additional processes as compared to those described herein. As noted, the one or more processors 820 may be arranged in a multi-processing arrangement. Alternatively, hard-wired circuitry may be used in place of or in combination with software instructions to implement the GBS 700. Thus, embodiments of the GBS 700 are not limited to any specific combination of hardware circuitry and software.

The Willi “computer-readable medium” or “computer-readable storage medium,” as used herein refers to any medium that is computer-readable and participates in providing instructions to the processor 820 for execution. Such a medium may be removable or non-removable and may take many forms, including, but not limited to, non-volatile media and volatile media. Non-volatile media include, for example, optical or magnetic disks, such as the storage device 840. Volatile media include dynamic memory, such as the main memory 850. Common forms of computer-readable media include, for example, floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium, a Compact Disc Read Only Memory (CD ROM), Digital Video Disc (DVD) or any other optical medium, punch cards, paper tape, any other physical medium with patterns of holes, a Random Access Memory (RAM), a Programmable Read Only Memory (PROM), an Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EPROM), a Flash EPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, or any other medium from which a computer can read computer instructions. Combinations of the above are also included within the scope of computer-readable media. Machine-executable instructions comprise, for example, instructions and data which cause a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or special purpose processing machine to perform a certain function or group of functions. It should be appreciated that the one or more databases 860, the main memory 850, the storage device 840, and the ROM 830 may, in some embodiments, be described as a “computer-readable medium” or a “computer-readable storage medium.”

The GBS 700 also comprises a communication interface 895 coupled to the bus 810 and providing one-way, two-way or multi-way data communication with the network 805, or directly with other devices. For example, the communication interface 895 may comprise a modem, a transceiver, an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) card, a WAN card, an Ethernet interface, or the like, to provide a data communication connection to a corresponding type of communication medium. As another example, the communication interface 895 may comprise a LAN card to provide a data communication connection to a compatible LAN. Wireless links may also be implemented. In such wireless links, communication interface 895 may communicate with a base station communicatively coupled to a network server. In any such implementation, the communication interface 895 sends and receives electrical, electromagnetic, radio, infrared, laser, or optical signals that carry digital data streams representing various types of information. Any combination of the above interfaces may also be implemented.

In one embodiment, the communication interface 895 may provide a connection through a local network to a host computer or to data equipment operated by an Internet Service Provider (ISP). The ISP may in turn provide data communication services through a worldwide packet data communication network such as the Internet. These networks use electrical, electromagnetic, or optical signals that carry digital data streams.

In one embodiment, the communication interface 895 may be communicatively coupled to a web server configured to generate and output web content that is suitable for display using a web browser at a computing device. In an embodiment, the server may generate and transmit requested information through the communication interface 895 to a requesting terminal via Hypertext Transfer Markup Language (HTML) formatted pages, eXtensible Markup Language (XML) formatted pages, or the like, which may be provided as World Wide Web pages that may enable navigation by hyperlinks. The server program may be used to receive commands and data from the clients' terminals, and third party database terminals, etc., access and process data from various sources, and output computer-executable instructions and data using the network 805.

According to one embodiment, the GBS 700 is configured to execute computer-readable instructions such as card game software. With the software, the GBS 700 can facilitate the playing of a card game by one or more players over a network such as the Internet. According to one embodiment, a player can play the card game by interacting directly with the GBS 700 or through a client 720 as described above. The card game software may run entirely on the GBS 700 or may require that some code be downloaded and installed on the client 720. Upon first accessing the GBS 700, a player may be prompted to create an account so that the GBS 700 may store in database 710 personal information about the user including, for example, payment sources such as bank accounts, credit cards, etc. After the player has created an account, subsequent access to the GBS 700 may only require that the player provide a user name and password. Once a player has been authenticated, the GBS 700 may present the user with several options for playing a variety of card games including the option of placing a side bet on burn cards. In addition, the player may given the option to play against one or more real players or computer simulated players or some combination of the two.

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram according to one embodiment based on FIGS. 7 and 8. In step 900, during a card game such as hold'em poker, the GBS 700 accepts bets from all participating players in the main game and wishing to make a side bet on burn cards. In alternative embodiments, the GBS 700 can accept bets from players individually against the house. Bets are saved in a virtual side pot. Next in step 902, the main round is dealt, and the burn cards are dealt out during the dealing of the main round. In step 904, the GBS 700 determines if the main round produced a complete burn hand, and if not, additional cards are dealt as if the main round were completed in step 906 to produce a complete burn hand. After all of the burn cards have been dealt, the burn cards are revealed to the players to reveal the burn hand 908. If any players correctly predicted the burn hand (Step 910), the GBS 700 allocates equal shares to those players from the virtual side pot (Step 912). In alternative embodiments where players place individual bets against the house, winning players are paid according to predetermined house odds. In step 914, if no players correctly predicted the burn hand, the funds in the virtual side pot are awarded to the house. In embodiments where players place individual bets against the house, unsuccessful bets are awarded to the house and winning bets are rewarded according to odds determined by the house.

One specific aspect of the disclosed method and system is a method of facilitating side betting in a poker game that includes generation of burn cards. The method includes accepting of a side bet by a player, the side bet being based on a prediction of a burn card poker hand, playing of a round of poker, including dealing a plurality of burn cards so as to produce the burn card poker hand, revealing the burn card poker hand, and awarding burn card winnings to the player if the prediction of the burn card poker hand meets a specified winning requirement.

In preferred embodiments, if the playing of the round of poker terminates before a complete burn card poker hand has been produced, the system and method further includes the dealer dealing additional cards in a manner simulating continued play of the round of poker until a complete burn card poker hand has been produced.

In some preferred embodiments, the prediction of the burn card poker hand can be one of a royal flush, a straight flush, four of a kind, a full house, a flush, a straight, three of a kind, two pair, one pair, and a high card. In other preferred embodiments, the prediction of the burn card poker hand can include a prediction of the suit of a card included in the burn card poker hand, and/or a numerical value of a card included in the burn card poker hand.

In various preferred embodiments, the side bet is placed into a virtual side pot, the contents of which are divided, after playing of the round of poker, among all players who placed side bets based upon predictions that met a specified winning requirement. And in certain preferred embodiments the side bet is placed against a house that may be represented by the dealer, and the burn card winnings are awarded according to odds predetermined by the house.

Another aspect of the disclosed method and system is a method of side betting in a poker game that includes a dealer representing a house, and generation of burn cards. The method includes accepting entry of a side bet by a player, an electronic device being used by the player to enter the side bet into a computer, the side bet being based upon a prediction of a burn card poker hand, playing of a round of poker, including the dealer dealing a plurality of burn cards so as to produce the burn card poker hand, the dealer revealing the burn card poker hand, the computer awarding burn card winnings to the player if the prediction of the burn card poker hand meets a specified winning requirement, and the computer awarding the side bet to the house if the prediction of the burn card poker hand does not meet any specified winning requirement.

In some embodiments, the prediction of the burn card poker hand can be one of a royal flush, a straight flush, four of a kind, a full house, a flush, a straight, three of a kind, two pair, one pair, and a high card. In other embodiments, the prediction of the burn card poker hand can include a prediction of the suit of a card included in the burn card poker hand, and/or a numerical value of a card included in the burn card poker hand.

In preferred embodiments, the electronic device used to place the side bet includes a touch screen accessible to the player. In various preferred embodiments the method further includes the dealer causing the computer to electronically save and lock all side bets before the playing of the round of poker. And in certain preferred embodiments if the playing of the round of poker terminates before a complete burn card poker hand has been produced, the house dealer deals additional cards in a manner simulating continued play of the round of round of poker until a complete burn card poker hand has been produced.

In some embodiments, the side bet is placed into a virtual side pot, and the computer awards the burn card winnings by dividing the contents of the virtual side pot between players who placed side bets based on predictions of the bum card poker hand that met specified winning requirements. And in other preferred embodiments the side bet is placed against the house, and the burn card winnings are awarded according to odds pre-established by the house.

In some embodiments, the house dealer revealing the burn card poker hand includes the house dealer electronically scanning the identities of the burn cards into the computer. And in some of these embodiments the house dealer revealing the burn card poker hand includes displaying of the burn card poker hand on the electronic device.

The foregoing description has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to be limited to the precise form disclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching or may be acquired from practice of the disclosure. The above-referenced embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the disclosure and as a practical application to enable one skilled in the art to utilize the disclosure in various embodiments, and with various modifications, are suited to the particular use contemplated. It should be understood that the following description is intended to describe exemplary embodiments, and not to limit the claimed subject matter. 

1. A method of betting in a card game, the card game including generation of burn cards, the method comprising: accepting, by one or more computers, a bet from a player, wherein the bet is based on a prediction of a burn card hand; during a round of the card game, dealing, by one or more computers, a plurality of burn cards so as to produce the burn card hand; and awarding, by one or more computers, winnings to the player if the prediction of the burn card hand meets a specified winning requirement.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, if the playing of the round of the card game terminates before a complete burn card hand has been produced: dealing additional cards in a manner simulating continued play of the round of the card game until a complete burn card hand has been produced.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the prediction of the burn card hand can be one of a royal flush, a straight flush, four of a kind, a full house, a flush, a straight, three of a kind, two pair, one pair, and a high card.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the prediction of the burn card hand can include a prediction of at least one of: the suit of a card included in the burn card hand; and a numerical value of a card included in the burn card hand.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the bet is placed into a virtual side pot by one or more computers, the contents of which are divided, after playing of the round of the card game, among all players who placed side bets based upon predictions that met the specified winning requirement.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the bet is placed against a gambling house and the winnings are awarded according to odds predetermined by the gambling house.
 7. A system for betting in a card game, the card game including generation of burn cards, the system comprising: one or more computers, configured with the following components: a component for accepting a bet from a player, wherein the bet is based on a prediction of a burn card hand; a component for during a round of the card game, dealing a plurality of burn cards so as to produce the burn card hand; and a component for awarding winnings to the player if the prediction of the burn card hand meets a specified winning requirement.
 8. The system of claim 7, further comprising, if the playing of the round of the card game terminates before a complete burn card hand has been produced: a component for dealing additional cards in a manner simulating continued play of the round of the card game until a complete burn card hand has been produced.
 9. The system of claim 7, wherein the prediction of the burn card hand can be one of a royal flush, a straight flush, four of a kind, a full house, a flush, a straight, three of a kind, two pair, one pair, and a high card.
 10. The system of claim 7, wherein the prediction of the burn card hand can include a prediction of at least one of: the suit of a card included in the burn card hand; and a numerical value of a card included in the burn card hand.
 11. The system of claim 7, wherein a component places the bet into a virtual side pot, the contents of which are divided, after playing of the round of the card game, among all players who placed side bets based upon predictions that met the specified winning requirement.
 12. The system of claim 7, wherein a component places the bet against a gambling house and the winnings are awarded according to odds predetermined by the gambling house.
 13. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions embodied therein, to be executed by a computer, for performing a method comprising: accepting, by one or more computers, a bet from a player, wherein the bet is based on a prediction of a burn card hand; during a round of the card game, dealing, by one or more computers, a plurality of burn cards so as to produce the burn card hand; and awarding, by one or more computers, winnings to the player if the prediction of the burn card hand meets a specified winning requirement.
 14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, further comprising, if the playing of the round of the card game terminates before a complete burn card hand has been produced: computer-executable instructions for dealing additional cards in a manner simulating continued play of the round of the card game until a complete burn card hand has been produced.
 15. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the prediction of the burn card hand can be one of a royal flush, a straight flush, four of a kind, a full house, a flush, a straight, three of a kind, two pair, one pair, and a high card.
 16. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the prediction of the burn card hand can include a prediction of at least one of: the suit of a card included in the burn card hand; and a numerical value of a card included in the burn card hand.
 17. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, further comprising computer-executable instructions for placing the bet into a virtual side pot, the contents of which are divided, after playing of the round of the card game, among all players who placed side bets based upon predictions that met the specified winning requirement.
 18. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, further comprising computer-executable instructions for placing the bet against a gambling house, and the winnings are awarded according to odds predetermined by the gambling house. 